Article 19 of the Saudi Tourism Law
المادة 19 من نظام السياحة
The Tourism Law takes effect 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يعمل بالنظام بعد مضي (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 19 explained in plain English
This article sets the date the Tourism Law takes effect, meaning the day its provisions begin to apply to tourism activities, licensees and the relevant bodies. The rule is that the Law takes effect 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
The main consequences:
- The date is counted from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, not from the date the Royal Decree was issued.
- During this period the new Law's provisions are not yet in force.
- When the Law takes effect, it replaces the previous Tourism Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/2 dated 9/1/1436 AH under Article 18, and repeals any conflicting provisions.
The purpose of this period is to give tourism bodies and establishments time to learn the new provisions and prepare to apply them, such as bringing their status into line with the licensing requirements and continuing obligations.
The article contains no transitional provisions for situations existing before it took effect, so nothing can be inferred from it on that. Anyone who needs to know the Law's effect on an existing activity can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 19 of the Saudi Tourism Law
When does the Tourism Law begin to apply?
The Law takes effect 90 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
From what date is the Tourism Law's effective period counted?
It is counted from the date the Law was published in the Official Gazette.
More articles on Definitions in the Tourism Law
- Article 1
This article defines the key terms of the Tourism Law, such as tourism, tourist, destination, tourism facility, hospitality facility, the types of tourism activities, and license.
يُقصد بالمصطلحات والعبارات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبيّنة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام السياحة. اللائحة: هي لائحة
- Article 17
The Minister of Tourism issues the Regulations within 90 days of the Law's publication in the Official Gazette, and they take effect from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر الوزير اللائحة خلال (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ العمل بالنظام.
- Article 18
The Tourism Law replaces the Tourism Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/2 dated 9/1/1436 AH and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يحل النظام محل نظام السياحة -الصادر بالمرسوم الملكي رقم (م / 2) وتاريخ 9 / 1 / 1436هـ- ويلغي ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.